Texas-style Land deals in other states?

Newbie here...anyone know if west texas is the only part of the state with those "under $1000 down and $250 a month for 10 to 20 acres" deals ? Looking more towards central & eastern texas...would really like at least 10 acres... i've scoured the internet and oppportunies seem scarce... any help ? James

Im no help but I am also new to permies and we are saving to purchase land as well. Hope to hear some encouraging responses!

me three!

i'm in NE Texas as well, and i have the desire and a fair amount of cash...just looking for the right property now

To find deals like that anywhere outside of West Texas is going to take some work. Searching county tax rolls, letting everyone you know you are looking for land, even cold calling works. I found my last piece of land by a co worker who knew I was looking. Her father was selling off his hunting property. Find the phone numbers of lands that are behind on taxes, alot of times people inherit land they really don't want but don't bother to list them. If you offer a fair price they will sometimes sell just to get out of paying taxes on land they don't use.

thanks, that's the route i'm taking now....and it is work.

The larger the parcel the cheaper the price per acre. I've often wondered if a couple of buyers could buy a larger property and split it, then not only would one have affordable land and more of it, but would have a permaculture neighbor rather than a farmer who uses toxins. I don't know how the legalities of something like that would work...

you'd surely hafta trust that person...but it could definitely work

Good luck to you James. I've been searching for quite some time for the same thing. I greatly prefer East Texas but the prices there sure aren't cheap. =(

thanks...got a lead on a couple places...i'll update as soon as the news breaks in the next couple weeks

What cities are you searching around? I just talked to our real estate agent today and I think we are going to close the deal on a 10 acre plot that I've been looking at. I'm very excited to get started. Hoping to be able to move out there in 5 years or so.

texarkana to lufkin to corsicana to paris ...... and i'm looking to move in the next month or so, lol

Ah very cool! Hope it all works out for you. We are buying in Hemphill. I'm quite excited. What are your plans for housing if you are moving in such a short period of time? Are you buying the land with a house on it?

well, lol, the plan is... to move my RV onto the land and then build the house .... we'll see if the plan works out

Ahhhh. Well that works I suppose. What are you planning with the 10 acres? What kind of building do you plan on doing?

in my mind i have an idea of pallet/cob combo ...we'll see how it translates to reality... i feel good about it

Banks own lots of U.S. property. Bypass agents and go through the bank. You might find a mortgage comes with the deal. This can work in many places.

Well James if we happen to find ourselves living reasonably close and you need help when you decide to build feel free to PM me. I'd be glad to offer some extra hands.

How does one go about finding these properties Dale? Do you contact individual banks or would there be a central website for them?

i just might do that ...

Probably both. In some areas they are overwhelmed with property and will make deals to get stuff off the books. Your dream, their nightmare.

Fantastic! Thank you for the info.

Well, it's been several months and although a few unplanned speed bumps got in the way.... I'm happy to say we've purchased 8 acres near trinity (outside Huntsville). Moved onto the property about 3 Weeks ago. Thrilled. Tax sale was the way to go, worked out very well.

Congratulations!

Tax sale was the way to go

Can you explain what you mean by that? Do you mean a tax lien sale? or something else?

A county tax lien on property sale. There are a couple law firms that handle several counties at a time. First Tuesday of every month is auction day. Fantastic deals available. Research each county online and, you'll usually be directed to the appropriate law firm website.

Grats! I absolutely love that area. I used to do some work around there. I always enjoy when my job sends me driving through East Texas. Such great scenery and so many wonderful small towns.

Thanks. We're pretty happy about it. Love the area and the sound of nothing, lol...

James Pruitt wrote:A county tax lien on property sale. There are a couple law firms that handle several counties at a time. First Tuesday of every month is auction day. Fantastic deals available. Research each county online and, you'll usually be directed to the appropriate law firm website.

Congratulations! I've begun searching; I'm looking for land north of Dallas, North Central TX I guess. Since next Tuesday is when auctions occur, I'm tempted to check one out.
Do you still plan to build a cob/pallet structure?

That's my goal. ...and we're excited about the idea. Just do your research, and you can find deals.

James Pruitt wrote:That's my goal. ...and we're excited about the idea. Just do your research, and you can find deals.

Well when you decide to build, my offer still stands. You are only about an hour or so away from where I am now. If you find that you need some help or anything just let me know. If I am free I would be glad to help.

That's awesome.

I too am interested in an acre to plant a little food forest. This is my current garden in Boston. MA but i want somewhere warmer https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjpWBJwPQ0nMdEpjV1AwcVJ0dGFZbnVpVEw0RlFQR0E

Well land is cheaper and it's definitely warmer here in Texas....

You should be able to find an acre for cheap compared to Boston pretty much anywhere in Texas. Just make sure to look into what kind of climate and landscape you are wanting. We have a bit of everything here depending on what part of the state you are in.

looking for land in Texas can be a chore for sure. You can go to the court house of any county and property that is being foreclosed on or being sold for taxes will be posted there.
You can also search Texas Land Vetrans for land,you do not have to be a Vetern to purchase any that is repoed .If you are a Veteran from any state and live in Texas for 5 years you can apply for a Texas land Veteran Loan, and or pick up the loan from any land repoed .This is different than a VA loan
There are some lands around. What you have to really watch for is land being in a flood plain, land that has been used as a dump and even land that has a high crime rate around it
I have a piece of property that is right in the middle of a crime area .It is 11 acres and someone has to stay there 24 hours a day. Drive around in the area and you would never suspect any thing more than what a great peaceful wooded country it is.
Something else if you purchase land make sure you use your own real estate attorney do not use the realtors or the sellers. Their attorney is obligated to them not you
Lots of property owners will cut land up into 1 5 10 20 acre lots and sell them. The sneaky part is they put a clause that there is no clear deed until all tracts are sold and paid off
If the owner has borrowed a lot of money on the land and then defaults on it your in trouble. The person holding that note takes position of all property even if yours is paid for.
Before buying property in Texas do a lot of checking. Texas also has Adverse Possession laws . A man can sell you a piece of property and you not know someone else has possession of it
You can't take it from him he has to be willing to give it up. This is dependent upon the user not using it or possessing by illegal means
Just be careful
I know long winded sorry

Chaz, thanks for all that info. I have lived here my whole life but never owned any property. Knowing about getting your own attorney is great to know.

Howdy,

I am fairly new to the permie group. I love what I see so far. I travel around Texas a lot mostly for family and natural building. I recently finished an online Permaculture Design Course with Geoff Lawton. My first project is in a wittle bitty town called Bayside, about 35 miles north of Corpus Christi. The project is right on the bay and I am also apart of construction on the straw bale home for our client. I would love to check out any sites that have Natural building or permaculture in the works. I appreciate the information on buying land, taxes, and Veterans loans, as my father is in search of land west of San Antonio/Austin.